Sarah Everard: A Weymouth domestic and sexual abuse survivor calls for change
Women's empowerment coach and trained Independent Domestic Violence Advocate, Danielle Downey, says enough is enough
On the back of the Clapham Common vigil being arranged for Sarah Everard, Danielle Downey wanted to do something locally for people to show their support.
"I feel like now is really important to seize the moment with violence against women in lockdown, the domestic homicide rates have doubled and gone from 2 to 4 a week."
An event was being organised for Weymouth this evening but after advice from Dorset Police and Dorset Council, Danielle is organising a vigil for when lockdown is lifted and it's safe to meet in groups again.
WHAT HAPPENED TO SARAH EVERARD
On March 3rd Sarah Everard was reported missing after not returning home from visiting a friend in Clapham Common.
Tuesday 9th Wayne the suspect was arrested on suspicion of murder before remains of a body were found on Wednesday near his home in a Woodland in Kent.
Friday 12th March the remains were identified as Sarah Everard's.
DOMESTIC ABUSE SURVIVOR
As a sexual and domestic abuse survivor Danielle says she often struggles with activities like walking her dog late at night.
"I've got my keys in hand, planning my route, I won't go in to an Uber with a man it's really important to me that we should be free. My sisters should be free my friends, my children, I've got three daughters we should live a life where we are not afraid and fearful all the time.
"I want that to change that, hence my driver for trying to arrange a vigil down here, raise awareness and bring people together, where we can say enough is absolutely enough.
"We are lacking in education and there is a huge issue with male to female violence, women are assaulted, murdered on a daily, weekly rate, there is a huge problem with gender violence, I think lockdown has perpetrated that along with a number of things."
MY DAUGHTER WAS INTERVIEWED BY POLICE
Danielle's daughter lives in a flat in Clapham, near to where Sarah Everard was last sighted.
"She was interviewed by the police as she lives so close to where it happened, it feels so close to home, that could have been my daughter.
"There are so many women that are facing sexual abuse, domestic violence and I really feel that we should be able to walk wherever we chose at whatever time of the day and whatever time of the night, however and where ever we choose, free from violence."
MEN SHOULD GET INVOLVED
Danielle says this is about asking men to change their actions and not women changing their behaviour as women should be free to walk anywhere even at 2am.
"It's really important that men get involved, my husband and I have active debates. As a good man he sees how diabolical life is as a woman sometimes and it makes him mad and I think any man that is able to say I stand shoulder to shoulder with you is strong.
"This vigil shouldn't just be about women I would hope that if the vigil goes ahead then men would feel compelled to go as well because men should be calling out their counterparts and saying no your views are wrong, I would expect good men would want to attend too."
Anyone experiencing sexual and domestic abuse or violence should contact National Domestic Abuse Helpline on 0808 2000 247 it's open 24 hours a day.